Great American Spit Out urges Arkansans to quit smokeless tobacco

The Great American Spit Out is a national day selected to decrease spit tobacco use, increase awareness of the negative health effects of using these products and help smokeless tobacco users quit for at least one day, with the hope that they will quit for good.

Stamp Out Smoking encourages Arkansas’ smokeless tobacco users to participate in the Great American Spit Out Thursday.

The Great American Spit Out is a national day selected to decrease spit tobacco use, increase awareness of the negative health effects of using these products and help smokeless tobacco users quit for at least one day, with the hope that they will quit for good.

"The event is part of a national week long public awareness campaign called 'Through with Chew Week,' which occurs from Feb. 17-23," Wanda Vester, Arkansas County Health Unit Administrator, said.

Vester said smokeless tobacco, which contains nicotine and 28 cancer-causing agents, is a known cause of cancer and increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity.

"Smokeless tobacco is associated with recession of the gums, gum disease and tooth decay," Vester said. "It is strongly associated with leukoplakia, a precancerous lesion of the mouth."

“Arkansas has so many great resources to help tobacco users quit, such as The Great American Spit Out, coupled with the dangerous health effects and growing costs of smokeless tobacco, is one more reason for Arkansans to take advantage of resources like the Arkansas Tobacco Quitline," Juanita Buckmaster, community health nurse specialist for the Arkansas Department of Health, said.

The Arkansas Tobacco Quitline, which can be reached by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, provides free motivational counseling with a trained Quit Coach and free nicotine-replacement therapy medication while supplies last.

The Quitline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with services available in English, Spanish and additional languages if needed.